Dawn Staley has built a reputation for producing elite-level talent, and her former players are proving it at the next level. One of her newest WNBA products, Te-Hina Paopao, was drafted sixth in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft and is already making waves for the Atlanta Dream.
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Coming off the bench for the Atlanta Dream, Paopao delivered a near-flawless outing in an 89–56 win over the Washington Mystics. She dropped 16 points and five assists to finish as the second-leading scorer for the Dream. Even more impressive? She did it while shooting six-of-eight from the field and four-of-six from beyond the arc—a clinic in efficiency.
Paopao is starting to find her footing in the league. If she keeps performing like this, a consistent spot in the starting lineup may not be far off.
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After all, she’s no stranger to leading a winning program. As a starter for the South Carolina Gamecocks under Staley, Paopao helped secure an NCAA championship—and now she’s bringing that same fire and playmaking ability to the pros.